Tag: disney inspirations

No matter how old you are, Disney has probably been a staple of your life at some point. Maybe you first felt the spark of romance while watching Sleeping Beauty, or you just couldn’t quite tear your kids (or yourself) away from a Lion King VHS tape… either way, Disney has the world hooked. (No wonder they make about $40 billion a year.)

Did you know that some of the most iconic and beloved Disney cartoons were based on real things? Characters, castles and stories all have real-life inspirations that you probably weren’t aware of. Buckle in, your nostalgic memories are about to be turned upside down.

25.) Professor Ratigan was based on Professor James Moriarty (from Sherlock Holmes).

26.) The Big Bad Wolf in The Three Little Pigs was based on Jed Harris.

27.) Scar from The Lion King was based on Jeremy Irons.

Maybe these real inspirations are why we can connect to Disney movies so well. Even though we know the cartoons are just fantasy, there’s just a hint of reality that gives us hope. You may know that magical genies don’t really exist… but seeing Aladdin run around something that looks like the Taj Mahal? It’s easy to hope it’s more than just a story.

Share these awesome Disney secret inspirations with others by clicking on the link below!